The Republican journal., 1887-08-04
CONSTABLE MltcbcIPs Discontinue"

There is, perhaps, little use in attempting to
defend ones self against libel in the public
press; for SANDER goes much farther and
faster than its refutation, gathers SO much in
venom as it goes, is SO pcrsistcntly repeated and
so increases in repeating, that all that may be said
in defense or explanation counts for naught. Still
1t is in human nature to defend ones self, though
the defense is useless.
For months the Age has persistently slandercd
me, accusing me of shortcomings and crimes
varying from incompetency as teacher to the
black crime of murder Week after week it has
left no depth of falschOOd unsOunded to find
matter to bcfoul me with. In every position
have occupied man, citizen teacher officer; the
Age has sought, with depth Of malice unspcak-
aoie, to destroy me; and the article under the
above caption is a sample of the attempts.
Before l was appointed Constable, and after,
was repeatedly informed that liquor was sold at
the Ncvins House, and one man said, SO under
stand, that he could prove it. wished to satisfy
myself on this point, and took the only means in
my power to do so with entire satisfaction to my
self, VIZ, to make purchase myself. l did ask
the proprietor to sell me pint of whiskcy, but l
dtd not make false pletcnsc of sickness, neither
did l appeal to his sympathy. extended no
to himself, for my only object to satisfy my
self whether he made practice of selling liquor
as reported. To have pretended illness would
have defeated my very purpose. asked for Il
large quantity in order to do away with this very
excuse if he raised it. did not state that was
i'll, for what purpose wanted it, but left him to
draw his own conclusions. had no doubt that he
would sell it to me if to any one, as was a
L.; h,. iii -
handle it, the law being strict, belicte'i
him. | was much better pleased to find the re
ports untrue, than should have been to have
found them true. WAS not particular which way
matters developed, my only purpose being to set
| al rest the reports. There nothing out of
keeping in the method took. did moi exceed
my duty as an officer, compromise my character
As a man.
understand Mr.. Neyin to say that when came
into the house | said 81 am not feeling well, am
| tired and will 20 to my ROOM not only do not
recollcct this 50. but my recollections to the
contrary remember saying 81 am tired and
will go to my room,'' and no more. But he says
that two three others in adjoining room
understood me to say the same. In that case, my
recollection notwithstanding, will not content
| If three four all heard me and heart me the
same, shall give way to their testimony, though
my recollection is to the exact contrary. | under
stand him to say, furthermore, that when called
him to the head Of the stairs said, 81 am not feel
ing we'll Can you ill this bottle with whiskey and
| bring me 4 glass and some hot water" This, too
admit save the first sentence, and That deny. lie
may have thought me i'll, and probably did, as he
| added after saying he did not deal in liquor, ''rhe
best ram 'lo is to give you some panarca, if that
will do Itold him it would do if he had nothing
stronger, thinking he might bring something
stronger. He brought up glass Of panacea
which l took, and finding out first what it was,
| threw it out of the window.
l say again my object to learn whether he
sold liquor reported, not whether it could be en-
torted from him hy an appeal to his sympathy. If Il
man was desperately ill and thought liquor OF
any other poison would relieve him, should give
it to him If had it, and it is hare, to conceive of =
more desperately contemplate act than to induce 4
man for PHYS sake to give one liquor, then cast
upon him the oditlm of one who sells for gain
But suppose A. Il. wants to get public sympathy
what better way can he take than to pretend that
| he has been thus imposed upon?
| NO one with common sense or any care for his
| reputation, would ever think of proceeding il
such manner f"r no man can be so blind as moi
to see how the public must look at an act 50 dis
honorable. The story is manifestly improbable on
its face.
| Mr.. Rust seems 70 feel bad that, as he alleges,
| have violated the law. OF course any child Of,
enough to read sees that the statute quoted has
more bearing on this matter than the doNology has
l want TO ask Mr.. Rust, however, if he ever tried
| to induce Il man to break the law
Thus on this skeleton of fact has the Age wovcl
| this tissue of falsehood. For weeks and months i
has malicously sought to destroy my reputation
and have patiently borne it till it is no longer
virtue to for1car, and there Is no way open fol
limlication save an appeal to the law
| j. w. MITCHELL.